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Can Columbus keep the top spot yet again, or will Gainesville or Morgantown de-throne them?
Columbus is still an offensive power house, and will try to use that to full effect. With one of the best QB's in the game in Tubbs(4,305 yds 51 tds). They have a great ground game as well with Hartman(1,422 yds 6 tds) leading the way. Their WR duo may have taken a step back, as "Crazy Legs" Rudzinski has had his production go down every year since his 2020 season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the front 7 don't look all that good, but looks can be deceiving. 11yr WLB Subramanian 31/31 may not jump out at you, but his 14.5 sacks sure will. This guys is a pass rushing specialist, and if you don't pay attention to him, he'll make you pay. Their back 4 is where the talent really lies, and they can shut down other teams passing game.
Gainesville has a QB of their own in Erickson(4,326 yds 24 tds), he has lead the league in passing the past 2 seasons. They have a great ground game as well with previous ROY Kinney(1,450 yds 11 tds) leading the way. They added rookie sensation WR Harward 62/80 to play along side the leagues best WR in Strickland 86/86. With the best WR tandem in the league, they will put up some numbers on offense, just like Columbus.
On the defensive side, a pair of great DE's lead the way for the front 7. They improved their back 4 with a trade, and that should help them shut down the passing game. Their front 7 is better than Columbus' but not their back 4.
Morgantown has a QB of their own in Meyer(3,745 yds 27 tds), and they also have a great ground game with Salinger(1,751 yds 13 tds) leading the way. It looks like they improved their passing game with a trade that brought in WR Giefeke from Dakota to pair with Knight, which could be slightly better than Columbus.
On the defensive side, their front 7 don't like to blitz a lot and are in the middle of the pack, but their back 4 are able to shut teams down and with the addition of Rookie S LaFlamme 45/72, their back four are the best in the division.
Charlotte just drafted a Franchise QB in DeJesus 22/70, so they will have some growing pains on the offense, but their ground game is a great one as well with the best RB in the league in Pasricha 86/86(1,095 yds 7 tds). Their WR corp is lacking though, and the worst in the division. They will need to address that in the future to keep teams from focusing on the ground game.
On the defense, they have the best DE in the league, as well as the 2nd best DT. Their front 7 is arguably the best in the division and are the only one to play a 4-3. Their back 4 might just be the worst in the division, if only slightly worse than Gainesville's.
Everyone in the division has a great ground game, and I think the only reason Pasricha didn't get more yards was because was because no one is afraid of Charlotte's passing game. With a rookie QB in the lineup, I expect Charlotte to finish last in the division. Now could be the time to trade away a couple of great players to rebuild a little faster. RB Pasricha could be that guy, while it would hurt their ground game, in a few years when QB DeJesus is developed, Pasricha may be on the decline. Now might be the time to gamble.
Now comes the tricky part, while I can't count Columbus to take the top spot, I do think they will finish second. The drop in "Crazy Legs" will slow down the passing game some, just like it did with Gainesville when Feigenbaum dropped to 49/49, which is where "Crazy Legs" is at. While Feigenbaum still had over 1,100 yds, teams double covered Strickland more, and I think that is what will happen to Columbus' Dennis. I think his production will go down some due to that. I think they had a tremendous season last year, but I don't expect them to repeat that kind of performance. Both Morgantown, and Gainesville improved their teams, but how do you improve a 15-1 team, go 16-0?? I don't think that's going to happen.
With Columbus dropping to the 2nd spot in the division, I think Gainesville will take the top spot from them. The addition of a rookie WR in Harward 62/80, teams won't be able to focus double coverage on Strickland any more. It's more of a pick your poison, who do you want to leave in single coverage? Defensive Coordinators are not looking forward to deal with this pair of WR's. And they know, if you try to stop the passing game, it can open up the running game and vice versa. I think they will have enough fire power to get back to the top spot like they were 2 seasons ago.
And now that leaves Morgantown to finish in the 3rd spot. But I think it will be like a couple of years ago, Morgantown was 3rd with an 11-5 record. I think they will have at least 10 wins, and I think we could see 3 teams from the division make the playoffs. They did improve their passing game, as well as their back 4 on defense. The only reason I have Morgantown at 3rd, is there's no way to choose them over Columbus yet. I do think they could finish tied for 2nd in the division, but tie breakers you can't decide.
It does look like an exciting year for the NC South, especially with the offensive power three of these teams are bringing to the table. Not counting Charlotte, all the teams were in the top ten in Yards per game last year(same 3 were top 6 the year before)....I guess this puts the rest of the OSFL on notice. These guys plan on moving the ball, and moving it well.
Columbus is still an offensive power house, and will try to use that to full effect. With one of the best QB's in the game in Tubbs(4,305 yds 51 tds). They have a great ground game as well with Hartman(1,422 yds 6 tds) leading the way. Their WR duo may have taken a step back, as "Crazy Legs" Rudzinski has had his production go down every year since his 2020 season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the front 7 don't look all that good, but looks can be deceiving. 11yr WLB Subramanian 31/31 may not jump out at you, but his 14.5 sacks sure will. This guys is a pass rushing specialist, and if you don't pay attention to him, he'll make you pay. Their back 4 is where the talent really lies, and they can shut down other teams passing game.
Gainesville has a QB of their own in Erickson(4,326 yds 24 tds), he has lead the league in passing the past 2 seasons. They have a great ground game as well with previous ROY Kinney(1,450 yds 11 tds) leading the way. They added rookie sensation WR Harward 62/80 to play along side the leagues best WR in Strickland 86/86. With the best WR tandem in the league, they will put up some numbers on offense, just like Columbus.
On the defensive side, a pair of great DE's lead the way for the front 7. They improved their back 4 with a trade, and that should help them shut down the passing game. Their front 7 is better than Columbus' but not their back 4.
Morgantown has a QB of their own in Meyer(3,745 yds 27 tds), and they also have a great ground game with Salinger(1,751 yds 13 tds) leading the way. It looks like they improved their passing game with a trade that brought in WR Giefeke from Dakota to pair with Knight, which could be slightly better than Columbus.
On the defensive side, their front 7 don't like to blitz a lot and are in the middle of the pack, but their back 4 are able to shut teams down and with the addition of Rookie S LaFlamme 45/72, their back four are the best in the division.
Charlotte just drafted a Franchise QB in DeJesus 22/70, so they will have some growing pains on the offense, but their ground game is a great one as well with the best RB in the league in Pasricha 86/86(1,095 yds 7 tds). Their WR corp is lacking though, and the worst in the division. They will need to address that in the future to keep teams from focusing on the ground game.
On the defense, they have the best DE in the league, as well as the 2nd best DT. Their front 7 is arguably the best in the division and are the only one to play a 4-3. Their back 4 might just be the worst in the division, if only slightly worse than Gainesville's.
Everyone in the division has a great ground game, and I think the only reason Pasricha didn't get more yards was because was because no one is afraid of Charlotte's passing game. With a rookie QB in the lineup, I expect Charlotte to finish last in the division. Now could be the time to trade away a couple of great players to rebuild a little faster. RB Pasricha could be that guy, while it would hurt their ground game, in a few years when QB DeJesus is developed, Pasricha may be on the decline. Now might be the time to gamble.
Now comes the tricky part, while I can't count Columbus to take the top spot, I do think they will finish second. The drop in "Crazy Legs" will slow down the passing game some, just like it did with Gainesville when Feigenbaum dropped to 49/49, which is where "Crazy Legs" is at. While Feigenbaum still had over 1,100 yds, teams double covered Strickland more, and I think that is what will happen to Columbus' Dennis. I think his production will go down some due to that. I think they had a tremendous season last year, but I don't expect them to repeat that kind of performance. Both Morgantown, and Gainesville improved their teams, but how do you improve a 15-1 team, go 16-0?? I don't think that's going to happen.
With Columbus dropping to the 2nd spot in the division, I think Gainesville will take the top spot from them. The addition of a rookie WR in Harward 62/80, teams won't be able to focus double coverage on Strickland any more. It's more of a pick your poison, who do you want to leave in single coverage? Defensive Coordinators are not looking forward to deal with this pair of WR's. And they know, if you try to stop the passing game, it can open up the running game and vice versa. I think they will have enough fire power to get back to the top spot like they were 2 seasons ago.
And now that leaves Morgantown to finish in the 3rd spot. But I think it will be like a couple of years ago, Morgantown was 3rd with an 11-5 record. I think they will have at least 10 wins, and I think we could see 3 teams from the division make the playoffs. They did improve their passing game, as well as their back 4 on defense. The only reason I have Morgantown at 3rd, is there's no way to choose them over Columbus yet. I do think they could finish tied for 2nd in the division, but tie breakers you can't decide.
It does look like an exciting year for the NC South, especially with the offensive power three of these teams are bringing to the table. Not counting Charlotte, all the teams were in the top ten in Yards per game last year(same 3 were top 6 the year before)....I guess this puts the rest of the OSFL on notice. These guys plan on moving the ball, and moving it well.
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